§ Mr. LevittTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if volunteer workers who receive board and lodging but no other remuneration for their work will continue to be regarded as volunteers and not employees for purposes of the application of the national minimum wage. [29806]
§ Mr. Ian McCartney[holding answer 16 February 1998]Yes. The Government introduced a new clause to the National Minimum Wage Bill at Report stage to address this point, after consultation with various voluntary organisations and members of the Standing Committee. The clause ensures that volunteer workers who are employed by a charity, voluntary organisation, associated fund-raising body or a statutory body and who receive genuine and reasonable expenses, subsistence and accommodation but no other remuneration or payment in kind will be outside the scope of the national minimum wage.